Perhaps looking to create a female Brock Lesnar in the WWE, the WWE has decided to give a UFC fighter a push over legit wrestlers. Shayna Baszler, whose UFC record is 15 wins and 10 losses, has become a finalist in the Mae Young Classic receiving a push over time tested industry veterans such as Abbey Laith, Mercedes Martinez and Mia Yim.

The decision is an odd one considering Baszler is an inexperienced pro-wrestler and her in-ring work at this time is limited at best, as we saw during the tournament. The WWE could use with more accomplished women wrestlers to fill out all of its women's division. The divisions have become lacklustre and predictable with the federation pushing the same 10 or so regular stars on each of its three brands. The WWE is sorely in need of stars like Laith, Martinez, Yim, Belair, Storm, Ripley, LeRae, Garrett, Sugehit, Michelle and Blanchard to really round things out and inject some interest and new blood into the ranks, that is if they are really serious about the future of women's wrestling in the WWE.

Kairi Sane defeats Toni Storm to advance to the finals of the Mae Young Classic. Photo Courtesy of: WWE Network.

Baszler will face the popular Kairi Sane (Kairi Hojo), who is already signed to the NXT brand, in the live finals of the tournament on the WWE Network on September 12th.

While the first four episodes were a mishmash, the quality of the second four episodes is slightly better across the board now that some of the talent, who should probably have never been involved to begin with, are gone. The commentary of Jim Ross and Lita remains spotty too with Ross having to carry a second-rate Lita and having to dig for aspects to comment on here and there. Sometimes it felt like J.R. was reaching for something to hang his hat on.

For me though, the most irritating aspect of the tournament has been the crowd in attendance. Their instance on splitting the cheers throughout almost every match and shouting "This is wrestling!" or "Women's wrestling!" for the most mediocre of matches is incredibly distracting, unnecessary and unoriginal. They just wanted to steal the spotlight from the talent in the ring. At times, I was driven to shut off the volume entirely just so I could enjoy the athleticism instead having it spoiled by the narcissistic cheers of the humanoids.

Mae Young Classic: Episode 5: Highlights

Abbey Laith (USA) vs. Rachel Evers (USA)

Abbey Laith is all over Evers using her amazing agility. Evers blasts Laith with a stunner and takes control but she relies on power moves more than finesse. The match serves as a showcase for Laith, who is one of the big stars of this tournament.

Winner: Abbey Laith. Match Rating: 6 / 10

Piper Niven (Scotland) vs. Serena Deeb (USA)

Deeb is definitely surrendering a lot of weight and muscle. She finds it hard to hoist Niven around and actually tries to slam her, which is just plain dumb. Niven splashes and slams Deeb but Deeb keeps kicking out. She kind of slams Niven. J.R. calls it a "modified slam". Both show far more range than they did in their first tournament matches. Deeb kicks out of a splash but not out of a Michinoku Driver.

Winner: Piper Niven. Match Rating: 7 / 10

Mercedes Martinez (USA) vs. Princesa Sugehit (Mexico)

Sugehit is wearing a cool Wonder Woman inspired outfit. Both show off their great technical skills with both women countering each other's moves. You can really tell the difference between the veterans and the rookies in this tournament. Impressed by Martinez's toughness and grit. She is really bad ass not only delivering but taking vicious hits. Martinez wins with a fisherman buster. One of the very best matches of the tournament. It sucks that both of these women cannot move on.

Winner: Mercedes Martinez. Match Rating: 7.5 / 10

Kairi Sane (Japan) vs. Bianca Belair (USA)

Belair whips the living hell out of Sane with her ponytail and the crowd goes ballistic. Belair does some squats when she has Sane up in a suplex. Sane is dominated with all manner of power moves from the impressive and vicious Belair. These women just batter each other absolutely senseless. Belair unleashes a beautiful 450 Splash but Sane kicks out. Belair misses the spear, crashes into the buckle which sets her up for the flying elbow smash.

Winner: Kairi Sane. Match Rating: 8/ 10

Mae Young Classic: Episode 6: Highlights

Lacey Evans (USA) vs Toni Storm (Australia)

Winner: Toni Storm. Match Rating: 5 / 10

Mia Yim (South Korea) vs. Shayna Baszler (USA)

Why the WWE is giving Baszler such hype over the sensational veteran Mia Yim, one of the best female wrestlers in the world today, is beyond my understanding. Baszler looks out of place in a WWE ring. Yim hits a 450 Splash but Baszler turns it into one of those fancy UFC submission moves. Baszler winning here is an absolute crime.

Winner: Shayna Baszler. Match Rating: 4 / 10

Rhea Ripley (Australia) vs. Dakota Kai (New Zealand)

Ripley slamming Kai face-first into the ring apron is the only spark in this otherwise routine match. What's the big deal about Kai? I just don't get they put her over Ripley. Kai's double foot stomp gets her the win.

Winner: Dakota Kai. Match Rating: 4 / 10

Candice LeRae (USA) vs. Nicole Savoy (USA)

Savoy plays the heel here, baiting the crowd and punishing LeRae. Nice back and forth match. Savoy gets a lot of heat when she knocks LeRae off the top rope and LeRae crashes to the mat. LeRae wins with her neck breaker off the ropes but the bout is pretty lethargic and lacked any kind of momentum.

Winner: Candice LeRae. Match Rating: 4 / 10

Mae Young Classic: Episode 7: Highlights

Abbey Laith (USA) vs. Mercedes Martinez (USA)

Interesting battle of counters and wills with lots of hard striking. Laith lands a remarkable cross body from the top rope and out of the ring. Back in the ring, Laith is limping. Martinez wins with the fisherman buster again.

Winner: Mercedes Martinez. Match Rating: 7 / 10

Candice LeRae (USA) vs. Shayna Baszler (USA)

LeRae ducks a kick and Baszler crashes into the ropes and to the floor. LeRae spikes Baszler with a tope which she turns into a DDT. LeRae almost makes Baszler tap out. LeRae goes for her finisher but Baszler turns it into her submission.

Winner: Shayna Baszler. Match Rating: 4 / 10

Piper Niven (Scotland) vs. Toni Storm (Australia)

Toni Storm bridges out of a pin, lifting Niven's full weight, which is extraordinary. As in her previous matches, lots of splashes by Niven. Niven misses a cannonball and Storm hits a running hip attack. Toni Storm kicks out of the Michinoku Driver. Niven is suplexed off the second rope by Storm. A leg drop off the top rope secures Storm the win.

Winner: Toni Storm. Match Rating: 7 / 10

Kairi Sane (Japan) vs. Dakota Kai (New Zealand)

Both women are a match when it comes to countering each other's moves and nailing each other with hard strikes. Kai misses her double stomp and her running kick. Sane puts her away with her flying elbow though.

Winner: Kairi Sane. Match Rating: 6 / 10

Mae Young Classic: Episode 8: Highlights

Mercedes Martinez (USA) vs. Shayna Baszler (USA)

Martinez gives Baszler some or her own medicine with sadistic chops and punches. On their knees in the middle of the ring, Martinez and Baszler slug it out. Martinez suplexes Baszler about 45 times but Baszler submits Martinez.

Winner: Shayna Baszler. Match Rating: 7 / 10

Toni Storm (Australia) Vs Kairi Sane (Japan

The stronger Storm puts a ton of pressure on Sane, who keeps absorbing punishment. Sane crushes Storm with a crossbody from the top rope to the floor. Sane wins again with the flying elbow.